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Evening Star, Issue 4309, 18 December 1876, Page 2

The *!Nortb Canterbury Independent', lately published at Kaiapoi, was printed at a loss of L 650 in ten montb.B, exclusive of bad debts. Up till last week the price of liquor at the Lyell was Is per aobbler. One of the hotel-keepers has at length created a revolution by reducing the price to 6d, and great is the rejoi«ing. "II Trovatore" and "Trial by Jury' ? were repeated at the Queen's Theatre on Saturday evening to a fair attendance. Both pieces will be produced to-night for the last time, and to-morrow " Lucia' di Lammermoor" will be again represented, followed by a comedy. Two charges of diunkenness constituted the business at the City Police Court to-day Charles Williams, who pleaded that he got drunk because he was disappointed at not receiving a remittance by the mail, was fined 58; Catherine Cahill L2, in default fourteen days' imprisonment. Messrs Logan and Black, J. P.'s, presided. It will be seen by the advertisement in another column that the Dunedin School Committee thank the directors of the Forbury Park Company for the free use of the park for the Bchools' picnic on Saturday, and also desire to express their obligation to the directors of the Ocean Beach Railway Company for the liberal terms on which the use of the railway was conceded. The Hokitika team, who take part in the Fire Brigades' demonstration, arrived by the Wellington this morning, and were conducted to their quarters by the special committee of the Dunedin Brigade. It will be seen by our telegrams that the Ballarat team will arrive- to-morrow. The .Lawrence Brigade will be represented, by Capt. Storry, Lieut. Holmes, and Fireman M'Gregor. At the Port Chalmers Police Court this morning, before Mr Mansford, 8.M., Andw. Goodlet, for drunkenness, was fined 10s, in default, forty-eight hours'; and Alexander M'Mitchell, ss, with the usual alternative. A further charge afcainst M'Mitchell for damaging Constable Livingstone's uniform having been proved a fine of 2s 6d was inflicted, in addition to 30s, the amonnt of the damage done ; in default seven days' imprisonment, with hard labor.

Mr Fox has a rare knack of inventing epithets. Once he described a troublesome opponent as being "partly a f«nian, and partly a lunatic, ,r and more lately, in a speech delivered at Durham on the Bulgarian atrocities, he thus referred to the Turks :—i " The character of the Turk had something iu it so detestable and repugnant that history could not describe him. It was almost impossible to describe him, and hia (Mr Fox's) opinion was that he was the missing link between humanity and the gorilla? which distinguished evolutionists had so long been seeking." At the meeting of the Oamaru Presbytery on tho 13th inst., the Rev.. Mr Ryley moved —"That this Presbytery resolve to petition the Synod at its first ordinary meeting, to rescind its decision with regard to the use of instrumental music in the public worship of God, and send down the overture on the subject to Presbyteries and Kirk Sessions." Mr Todd moved, as an amendment—"That the Presbytery petition the Synod to rescind the resolution of Synod 1876, which declares the use of instrumental music in the worship of God to be scriptural, inasmuch a i there are ministers and members of the Cbmch who feel aggrieved at this declaration." The motion was carried by seven to four.

The '.' Octoroon" was put upon the stage at the Princess's vtry fairly on Saturday evening. Mr Hall was Salem Scudder, and c/utributed in no small degree to the success of the piece by tho self-possessed but at times vigorous manner in which he represented the Yankee. There was no bombast or "bounce," but a collected and earnest style about him that showed the character had been carefully studied. Mrs Hall was deservedly applauded as Zoe, the simple Ofltoroon girl who is subjected to such horrible adventures. The little fellow who played Paul earned a word of praise. " Infant jpheupmena" are generally bores; but this juvenile actor has evidently been wellinstructed, and he spoke the words with cleamww and suitable-expression. Wahnotee, the redskin, was made a good deal of by Mr Htoneham, who looked sufficiently savage to Izve slain Jacob M'Pk»ky by a glance and thus have saved all the eoiabat wijich takes place in the swamp Taken all round, the play was very successful, apd the company generally loomed to be on their biefc baha viour. Excepting the steamboat scene—in which one half of the vessel parted company from the other-i-ike scenery was good, and tide musks was appropriate. "Nicholas A ick'erby" i? anjfcunfle'd for to-nighfc <,

Afire took ptsspjfc3he Kaitenuj Valley jit *Krat 5 o'clock-- yestecday a 3iousw occupied bjr-J.ir* heuK|»&n\ to the ground. We tn|j|fcM>" Ballard, who has losrt al|||& fnrnitof||HHl v ejjjticts, immred. ; originjafme ||isuaj||wm * \J&\ §« &ff a PPsW hat *&fr iW|prhouße btiyKsMl Sol #|§t * Gen W that the^Wity< re/ apportfdftrfche rept ridings wherever in the'nrst instance have been done. a^^

There are some long-suffering and generous people ''n Masterton. One of these persons was assaulted the other day by a 'boroffender was. Jned L 5, which he couldn't pay. Then Jha* prosecutor lent him L 5 to pay the fine! We should like to know

_ His Honor Mr Justice Johnston, in chambers in Christchurch on Friday last, heatd case of Lajter v, Brogdeiij >whiohi raises thfe question of the power of /Jteudent Magistrates to issue a summons whea the defendant is absent from the Colony. OW question was argued at ;«ome-lettgthi'*nd ! ultimately tW case stands adjourned for Mr Bi&ngsiiom the defendants, which ft is allied the power to sne,andj>e< sued in their name. nr**. ■■■*?*<

, A very pleasapt day; was Bpenfjst Wood- • U 4 °" by the.scholars attending the Water-of-Leith Day SohooL which, ml held jn : the North Dunedin Driftsned.Mr Hall, confectioner, of George street;' catered most amply and Satisfactorily for them. -Games \bt various were freely indulged"fife, when a lareen&ter ofpnzes were woh fb* racing cricfe* &o. T&e attendance at the picnic, which war a' thorough success, was large, though a goodly number were: away ion aecount bfthe threat-. ening aspectjof .the weather in the morning. vl Mr 9' & *«*<» & d&ermtned'to Wse' a" blaze in Welfington, . The f qllowjng is (l an> extract from a charaoterisii^: address- U recenily.made in the. Police Court,when, de* fending a client on a - "Am •I to be hounded down and in this town, for sayingphat hfeought toTbe committed as a scounorel wholias perinred himself with a lash of scorpwns,, would' I have been guUty of more than turning him' out of the Temple of Truth I .1 defend my condnet.: 1 4 had a-right to turn round and ask thaV-Vour Worships shonld cbrnmit the ecoundrel for j perjury It is r done frequently; and,-ought to be done more ire6uently with some classes of witnesses. But I will.jiot dealfurther with the evidence,for the prosecution.; Ifcexcltes me too muoh.> I to the evidenoe for ; the defenoeVwMch.'hfei been most unfairly suppressed by the paperß.''lu dther'parts of hi*«|d|es»h\ spoke of the pros'ecritpr as a inhuman brute, «a lying, scoundrel. 1 '?. The Rev. G. W, Russell gives a graphic and interesting account of his experience in ministerial work on the Kumara gdldfield.' He describes, hbw; onixine ocfcasion,'after wandering abeut the crowded streets of ! theKumara township on a Snnnay, he got hold of a ««. Free Methodist/' a "Bible Christian,?' andj one or two other supporters, whereupon he obtained anempty packing-case, mounted ■ upon.it, and struck up. "JJock of Ages." Then tke crowd gathered, and he commenced his sermon. "Scarcely .had I begun,?', he says, " when I was interrupted very much. Some wanted to know about 'the lead,' some yelled, some shouted. There was a little knot of men from whom' ali the noise proceeded. I went on with my discourse, trusting in the Lord. After I had gone 1 on for some time : a cart drove up, and a most determined effort was then made to drive us away; but when the rush forward was made I put my right foot to the ground for a few seconds, but, finding no immediate danger, I 'up and at it'again." The diecourse was again interrupted, and by-and-by the preacher received an full in the face but he still persevered. Then there was a. reacjbion in his favor, the majority of the: hearers became very attentive, > and when the discourse came to an end they "gave three sheers for. the plucky parson," while one Enthusiastic member of the flocK invited' him: "to-come and !have a drink." . dently the. Rev. M> feussell is f gainingiis' experience'in a somewhat rough"' school. '* "

: Abetting of the Yorkshire jQlob will be held on Tuesday evening at eight o'clock.- : All members of I.t)!bIF? '>' are r. quested to attend the meeting 1 to-morrow (Tuesday) evening. l ' ;' ''J ■ Railway - tation on Wednesday, at £-j> i&' / : r A; Christmas ba'lwill take place in the 4iillshed. Green Island, on Tuesday evening, .December 26, commencing at 8 o'clock, i ,:^;', ,-. _ Mr Rutherford will meet the electors of the Koslyn Riding in the Caversham school on , Wednesday at eight o'clock, and in the Koslyn Hall on Thursday at 7.30 p.m. The Bay Atmarfac for 1877, which has reached us, is exceedingly well got up, and i* ' Printed in a style worthy of the * Herald' office, from which it is issued. ~:.-=■; : Those residents of Caversham, whose business compels ihem to be in Dunedin at 8 a.m. will be glad to learn tbat on and after Tuesday next the train which left Cavewham station at 7.40 a m. will leave five minutes earlier. The musical festival in connection with the" formal opeaing of the new Organ Gallery will ; take pbee to-morrow evening, at St. Joseph's Church. A splendid programme, consisting of vocd and instrumental, selections from the works of the great musters; will be rendered by the choir, assisted by some of our best amateurs. Mr Charles Sykes will preside at the organ. .. Mr £ T. Wheeler sends us the fcunch Almanac, wh'chis one of the .best numben yet issued. The full paged cartoon illustrative of real federation is capita). The first meeting in the new-Housfeo* the banks ofthe Murray-of the Federated Parliament of Australasia is worth more than a passiag notice. • The principal political personages who figure in it' are easily recognisable, aid Sir J» .Vogells particularly well drawn. "'..'